Vermont Governor Still Hopes Gun Seizure Bill Can Pass This Week

Vermont Governor Phil Scott says he's still hopeful the Legislature can give final approval to a bill that would allow police to seize firearms and explosives from people determined to be an extreme risk to themselves or others.

Scott, a Republican, said Thursday the Senate could send the proposal to the House for consideration before lawmakers leave for Town Meeting Day break on Friday.

Such immediate action would require rules suspension, but Scott says the issue has urgency and if lawmakers work together the proposal could reach his desk by Friday evening.

Scott says that once the "extreme risk protection order" bill is enacted, lawmakers could then turn their attention to other gun proposals when lawmakers return to the Statehouse in the middle of March.

Less than two weeks after a gunman opened fire on a concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more, a New York congressman and two other Democratic representatives have introduced a bill to update reporting requirements for semi-automatic rifles.